Amy Laurenson band

Amy Laurenson is a pianist from the Shetland Isles, currently based in Glasgow. Having studied both classical and traditional music at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, Amy graduated with a first class BMus Honours degree in 2022 and was recently named BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician of the Year 2023. Rooted in the traditional music of Shetland, Amy explores the music of her homeland alongside traditional and folk music from Scotland, Ireland and Scandinavia. She has developed a style which ebbs and flows between traditional, classical, and jazz influence and which challenges the role of the piano as a solo instrument in traditional music.

With her tonight are Miguel Girão (guitar), Rhona MacDonald (double bass) and Callum Convoy (bodhran). Expect jigs and reels, bridal songs and hornpipes, jazz-inflected pieces and slower, more reflective tunes - music from different traditions too, with nods to Sweden, Estonia and Brittany, but with the Shetland sound always evident.

Will Pound & Jenn Butterworth

Will Pound is probably the finest UK harmonica and melodeon player of his generation, and has appeared on TV & Radio many times. He has been nominated 3 times for the BBC Radio 2 Folk Musician of The Year Award, and has won FATEA Magazine Instrumentalist of the Year. Jenn Butterworth is one of the most in-demand folk guitarists in the UK acoustic music scene. In recent years she was awarded ‘Musician of the Year’ from the Scots Trad Music Awards, and was nominated for the same title in the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards. A highly recognised teacher - a lecturer and ‘Creative Producer’ in the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. A spellbinding duo who create awe inspiring performances with driving rhythms and outstanding musicianship.

Wayward Jane

Wayward Jane’s music is a modern, transatlantic interpretation of American folk and Old-Time traditions, blending roots music with fresh arrangements and original compositions. Their rich sound features fiddle, clawhammer banjo, double bass, guitar, wooden flute and close vocal harmonies. Wayward’s live shows have a joyful energy, expressing the fine musicianship and playful chemistry of the band members. Ranging in mood from high-octane, toe-tapping tunes to tender and soulful songs, Wayward Jane tend to leave audiences with a glow in their hearts. They were recently featured live in session on BBC Radio Scotland’s Travelling Folk where Bruce MacGregor remarked “they’re just that bit different from anything else happening in Scotland!”

Steve Hicks & Lynn Goulbourn

The music of Hicks and Goulbourn is characterised by pure acoustic tones, reflective lyrics, well-crafted arrangements and intricate, complex guitar work and an engaging, easy-going stage presence. Lynn brings pure vocals while Steve, seemingly effortlessly, plays classic ragtime, swing jazz, blues, Celtic, early and modern classical pieces … all with an ease that will leave you spellbound! Whilst the genres in their typical sets are wide ranging there is no compromise in quality and their live performances are interspersed with anecdotes and humour.

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Tim Edey & Ross Ainslie

Tim bubbles with enthusiasm and has twice won BBC Musician of the year. He plays a variety of instruments to an astonishing level of competence - guitar, accordion, banjo, piano/keyboards, ukulele, mandolin, bass guitar, bouzouki and whistles! Ross is also a much lauded multi-instrumentalist, playing pipes, whistles and cittern. Mentored by legendary piper Gordon Duncan, his piping virtuosity continues that fearlessly innovative spirit. He has been a finalist in the BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician of the Year competition three times and won “Best Duo” at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards, 2014. Tonight the two come together to provide you with an unforgettable concert of Celtic music.

Jez Lowe

Jez Lowe has long been one of the UK’s busiest folk performers, playing for audiences the world over, with guitar, cittern and harmonica accompaniment. Richard Thompson has called him “The best singer songwriter to come out of the UK for a long time”, and he received a double nomination in the 2015 BBC Folk Awards – for best singer and best new song. As BBC Radio DJ Mike Harding said recently, “No-one else writes or sounds like Jez Lowe”, and chances are, even if you’ve never heard the man himself, you’ll have heard his songs, sung by the great and good, the professional and the enthusiast, the young and not-so-young. What higher accolade could a songwriter hope for?

Carly Blain & Graeme Armstrong

Carly is a Scottish fiddler originally from Kelso and a graduate from the Newcastle University Folk and Traditional Music Degree. She is joined by accomplished guitarist Graeme Armstrong of the band Talisk fame. Having grown up around the traditions of the Scottish Borders their set features much of the music they heard and played growing up. Expect lively dance sets and great musicianship.